Racing: Stumble puts Fallon inches from injury

KIEREN FALLON was trampled by two horses but escaped serious injury after falling from his mount on the home turn in the final race at Chepstow yesterday. The champion jockey lay on the track for around five minutes and was taken from the course in an ambulance. But he was able to walk back into the medical room and was later given the all-clear.

Fallon said last night: "The pain was absolutely unreal all over when I came down and my right thumb was dislocated, but it's gone back in now, although it's still very sore.

"I was so lucky to get away with it as I'm bruised down both legs but I hope to be able to ride tomorrow as I feel all right now but you never know what you'll feel like in the morning after something like that."

Fallon was in midfield when the incident occurred. His mount, Red Raja, the 7-2 second-favourite, began losing his footing on the turn into the home straight, before stumbling and sending the jockey sideways out of the saddle. The rider was trampled by two pursuing runners including John Lowe's mount, Coleridge.

Lowe said: "Luckily for Kieren, my horse tried to jump him but caught him a glancing blow. His horse slipped on the bend and as he was trying to get back up he just catapulted Kieren out of the saddle."

A Jockey Club spokesman reacted cautiously yesterday to calls for the introduction of ``Irish-style'' starting stalls in Britain after the death of a filly at Southwell. Amber Music reared up in the stalls, breaking her neck when she hit the steel bar at the top of the stalls. Bill Turner, her trainer, said later: "The Irish starting stalls, without the ironwork on top, would be a help when something like this happens."

The Jockey Club's public relations officer, John Maxse, said officials would see if there was anything that could be learned. But he pointed out that it was only the smaller Irish courses that still use open-topped stalls. Grade One tracks like the Curragh and Leopardstown use the stronger design of stalls which have a top bar supporting the structure.

There was strong support yesterday for Moutahddee for Friday's Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap at Sandown. The three-year-old was cut from 16-1 to 6-1 in Stanley's ante-post list, and to 7-1 from 16-1 by Ladbrokes. The lightly-weighted Moutahddee is trained by Mark Tregoning, who has a high opinion of him.

Bookmakers reacted yesterday to news that Daylami is not certain to line up for Saturday's Eclipse Stakes at Sandown by offering the favourite "with a run". The grey is expected to have a workout in Newmarket today.

The sponsors, Coral, quote Daylami at 9-4 "with a run" and have cut the odds of his main rivals, including those of France's Croco Rouge.

ECLIPSE STAKES (Coral betting): 9-4 "with a run" Daylami, 3-1 Croco Rouge (from 4-1), 6-1 Insatiable (8-1), Xaar (10-1), 8-1 Fantastic Light (12- 1), 10-1 Chester House (14-1), Lear Spear (12-1), 12-1 Greek Dance, Running Stag (16-1), 25-1 Compton Admiral, 33-1 Happy Valentine.

RICHARD EDMONDSON

Nap: Keebaar

(Yarmouth 6.40)

NB: Polruan

(Epsom 7.55)